Be as cool as a cucumber ( Health benefits)

Need a quick and healthy pick me? Look no further, no need for those fizzy unhealthy soda's and an overdose on caffeine, just eat a cucumber. There is still a debate on whether this cool dark green log of super food  is a fruit or vegetable; well surprise, surprise according to the botanists (those who study plants) a cucumbers is technically a fruit with tremendous health benefits.

Below is a short list of benefits we get from this fruit:

1. Flushes out toxins

The water in  a cucumber acts as a broom which sweeps all the unwanted toxins out of our system. Cucumbers are also known to liquefy kidney stones if consumed regularly.

2. Aids in weight loss

Thanks to its low calorie and high water content cucumber is the ideal food for whoever is looking to lose weight. The water that the cucumber contains aids in getting rid of toxins in the digestive system aiding in digestion and is a great remedy for constipation.

3. Maintains normal electrical activity of the heart.

Cumbers are rich in Potassium which plays a huge  role in the development of muscle tissue and helps maintain normal electrical activity of your heart.

4. Keeps your joints in good health

Cucumbers are an excellent source of silica, which is known to help promote joint health by strengthening the connective tissues.

5. Controls blood pressure and helps cure diabetes

Cucumbers contain a loads of potassium, magnesium and fiber; these work effectively in regulating blood pressure.

Beautify your skin with tomatoes

Yesterday we learnt about the benefits of tomatoes for your body internally, today I will share with you a way in which you can use tomatoes to beautify your skin.

Whether you want to cure large pores or reduce acne and rashes or sooth a nasty sunburn or simply to revive the glow on dull skin, tomatoes are beneficial in many homemade beauty treatments.

To cure burnt inflamed skin...

Dice and mash half a tomato and mix it with two tablespoons of plain yogurt.
Apply it on face, neck, hands and feet.
Wash it off after 20 minutes.

Tomato brings a cooling effect to the skin and neutralizes the surface and the yogurt will give your skin a protein boost and leave your skin feeling soft.

Get rid of blackheads....

Slice a tomato into cubes and smash it with a fork or you can grate the tomato instead. Apply it to a clean face. Leave on for about 30 minutes.

The acidity in tomatoes will help clear up acne and blackheads and it will also help cleanse the skin from oils, dirt which cause acne by clogging the pores, heavy makeup and dead skin cells. Tomato juice even has the ability to shrink pores. This mixture is sure to give your skin a beautiful soft clear appearance over time.

Juicy health benefits of tomatoes

Tomato  goodness

Fruit or Vegetable? Its for you to decide. Either way tomatoes are a great source of nutrition. You may eat them raw or cooked, which ever way they remain true to their delicious taste. Below is a list of health benefits of tomatoes.

1.Prevent DNA Damage

Tomatoes are high in important antioxidants such as vitamin C and Vitamin A. These vitamins work to fend of DNA damage from free radicals. Consequently, tomatoes may help to ward off age related diseases such as diabetes.

  2. Protect Against Thrombosis (blood clots in the blood vessels)

Another study showed that drinking 8 ounces of tomato juice daily reduced platelet aggregation significantly, among study subjects. Those drinking a placebo showed no benefit. It’s important to drink low-sodium tomato juice if you are trying to protect against thrombosis.

4. Decreases risk of prostate cancer

Tomato contains amazing amounts of lycopene which is said to have anti oxidant properties. Studies have shown that tomato can reduce prostate cancer especially in synergy with broccoli. A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute suggested that ‘the intake of tomatoes and tomato products is associated with a decreased risk of prostate cancer. This benefit may be related to the antioxidant properties of lycopene, but other potential mechanisms and other beneficial tomato-based components instead of or combined with lycopene cannot be excluded’.

5. Tomatoes work against impotency and help increase the sperm count.

6. Tomatoes are powerful blood purifiers and clear up urinary tract infections.

7. Tomatoes are widely used in the manufacturing of skin care and beauty products as they are good for improving skin porosity.


Types of tomatoes

Ball’s Beefsteak

Very large flattened, solid, meaty juicy bright red fruits, weigh up to 2 lbs., excellent slicer with rich sub-acid flavor.

Beefmaster

Large red meaty beefsteak type tomatoes, good-flavored, can weigh up to 2 lbs. Good tolerance to cracking & peeling.

Better Boy

Most popular hybrid. Spectacular midseason deep red tomatoes are plump & juicy& average about 1 lb. fruits.

Better Bush

 Long harvest season. 4-inch fruits have a juicy consistency and great garden-fresh flavor!

Secrets of Lemon

Many are times where we use lemon in our tea's, curries and for weight loss but can one say they truly know the health benefits of eating lemon. Today it will be my pleasure to interest you in the many secrets that this
( Lemon) small yellow fruit hold:

 1. Balances pH

Lemons will help alkalize your body. Many may think that lemons are an acidic food, the acid in lemons does not create acidity once it is metabolized by your body.

2. Improves circulation

Lemons contain Vitamin P a bioflavenoids that help Vitamin C perform its function. It is known to strengthen the blood vessels.

 3. Aids bad breath

Lemon juice is a great oral cleanser. Brushing your teeth with a warm mixture of lemon and salt water will leave your mouth with a fresh smell.

4. Good for you liver

“The lemon is a wonderful stimulant to the liver and is a dissolvent of uric acid and other poisons, liquefies the bile,” says Jethro Kloss in his book Back to Eden. Lemons have powerful antibacterial properties; experiments have found the juice of lemons destroy the bacteria of malaria, cholera, diphtheria, typhoid and other deadly diseases.

5.  It destroys intestinal worms.

6.  Lemons can halts or slows down the growth of cancer.

Lemons contain 22 anti-cancer compounds, including naturally occurring limonene; oil which slows or halts the growth of cancer tumors and flavonol glycosides which stop cell division in cancer cells.

7. Decreases cholesterol levels

These are also helpful in decreasing the cholesterol levels in the body which results in maintaining good health of our hearts. This is due to the presence of polyphenol flavonoids in lemon peels.

8. Promotes Weight loss

Lemon peels contain a component known as Pectin, which is responsible for the promotion of weight loss in the body. You can grate the lemon peels and drop a few in your cup of tea.

9. Improves bone health

Lemons contain a high amount of calcium and vitamin C, these  help in maintaining and improving the health of our bones. Lemons also helps in preventing bone related diseases likes osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Small with big health benefits (Lentils)

Summer is very near in South Africa and we all want that gorgeous body to show of at the beach :). Low in calories and high in nutrition, lentils are the perfect legume to eat in the summer in salads, spreads and crackers. Stated bellow are the benefits of including lentils in your diet....

 1. Weight Loss

Lentils include all these beneficial nutrients like fiber, protein, minerals and vitamins, they are still low in calories and contain virtually no fat. One cup of cooked lentils only contains about 230 calories, but still leaves you feeling full.

2. Reduces risk of heart attack

Lentils help to reduce blood cholesterol since it contains high levels of soluble fiber. Lowering your cholesterol levels reduces your risk of heart disease and stroke by keeping your arteries clean.

3. Rich in Iron

 The body uses iron to produce red blood cells and adenosine triphosphate, or ATP.  A man needs 87% of iron per day and a woman needs  only needs 2/3 of that amount. Just one cup of lentils can provide you with your daily dose of iron.

4. Cancer Prevention

Studies conducted by the Department of Nutrition at Harvard School of Public Health, Boston revealed that both lentils and peas are able to reduce the risk of breast cancer. One of the reasons is that both these foods are rich in flavones, a class of antioxidants.

5. Stabilized Blood Sugar

Adding to the many benefits of fiber, soluble fiber traps carbohydrates, this slows down digestion and stabilizing blood sugar levels. This can be very helpful for people with diabetes or insulin resistance

Tomorrow I will share my favorite, easy to make lentil soup..

Lets have a Date.....

It's a wonderfully delicious fruit to eat, dates are one of the most popular fruits packed with an impressive list of essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that are required for normal growth, development and overall well-being. Below are a few benefits of adding dates to you diet.

1. Prevents abdominal cancer:

 It is high in natural antioxidants which helps in preventing development of some colonic cancers. It does not have any side effect on the body and is completely natural.

2. Improves digestive system:

 Dates contain different kinds of amino acids as well as soluble and insoluble fibers which help regulate the digestive system.

3. Helps treat aminia:

Dates have high iron content and are very useful in treating anemia. They also have fluorine that slows down the process of tooth decay.

4. Good for your vision:

They are moderate sources of vitamin-A, which is known to have antioxidant properties and essential for vision. Additionally, it is also required maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural fruits rich in vitamin A is known to help to protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.

5. Aids oxygen flow in the body:

Dates are an excellent source of iron. Iron, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, determines the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

6. Loaded with needed minerals:

They are also rich in minerals like calcium, manganese, copper, and magnesium. Calcium is an important mineral that is an essential constituent of bone and teeth, and required by the body for muscle contraction, blood clotting, and nerve impulse conduction. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Copper is required for the production of red blood cells. Magnesium is essential for bone growth.

7. Boosting Brain Health:

 Some studies, such as one found in JAMA Internal Medicine, found that sufficient vitamin B6 levels are associated with improved brain performance and better test scores.

DIY Banana hair mask and cracked heels healer.

Hair Mask (Treats hair loss,prevents split ends and breakage)

1 banana
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup natural yogurt

Mix all ingredients together. Mash rapidly for a couple of minutes. Let it stay on your hair for 15 minutes followed by hair wash with your favorite shampoo.

Heals cracked heels

 Banana is a good remedy for cracked heels. Take two bananas and  mash it into a smooth paste apply the past onto clean  feet. Leave the paste on your heels for 10 minutes and rinse the feet with luke warm water. Pat them dry and apply your favorite moisturizer ( mine is Coco Butter by Vasiline).The banana will live your feet soft and smooth.